Motorist arrested on DUI charge in Pahrump

The efforts of a Good Samaritan led to the arrest of a suspected drunk driver early Sunday evening.

By Selwyn Harris Pahrump Valley Times

July 14, 2017 - 6:00 am

The efforts of a Good Samaritan led to the arrest of a suspected drunk driver early Sunday evening.

According to the official arrest report, Nye County dispatchers received a call regarding a gold SUV driving eastbound along Blagg Road in the wrong travel lane at approximately 7:40 p.m.

Dispatchers were also advised the driver pulled into the Ohjah Steakhouse parking lot where the Samaritan said the driver struck a parked vehicle in the lot.

“Upon arrival, I observed the gold-colored SUV had rear-ended a red vehicle parked in front of the steakhouse,” the deputy said in a report. “I immediately activated my emergency lights and attempted to make contact with the driver of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle then began driving away from the accident and drove approximately 60 feet. I was following in my patrol vehicle with my emergency lights activated before the driver came to a stop in the parking lot of Anytime Fitness.”

The deputy noted the driver, identified as Margaret Sutton, had pulled in taking up two parking spaces as the vehicle came to a complete stop.

“I asked the suspect if she would consent to a preliminary breath test, which she consented, but she was unable to properly blow into the device.”

The deputy then placed the driver under arrest for DUI.

“I secured the vehicle and did not tow because the vehicle was parked in a space in a private property parking space, I read Ms. Sutton the Nevada Implied Consent Law in which she agreed and consented to provide a breath sample. I transported Ms. Sutton to the Nye County Detention Center.”

Upon arrival, the deputy again noted that Sutton was unable to provide a breath sample due to not being able to blow into the device long enough to provide an adequate sample, the deputy noted.

“Ms. Sutton then elected to give a sample of blood where a phlebotomist was contacted to secure a blood sample from the on-call phlebotomist at the jail,” noted the deputy.

Sutton, 70, of Pahrump, was booked into the Nye County Detention Center on DUI first offense, and driving without a license or expired license.